The Browns have a problem. Well, obviously at 0-11 they have many problems, but specifically there is a problem with the way the coaches view “an outstanding play” and the way officials view the same play as a penalty.

Browns safety Jabrill Peppers was flagged for unnecessary roughness in the fourth quarter in Cincinnati last week in a critical juncture of the game when officials ruled his helmet made contact with the face mask of Bengals rookie receiver Josh Malone.

Had Pepper’s third-down hit on Malone not been flagged, the Bengals would have punted from the Browns 40, leading 23-16, with 3:51 to play. Instead, the Bengals had a fresh set of downs at the Browns 25 and three plays later took a 30-16 lead on an 11-yard run by Joe Mixon.

“I thought it was a rare play and I thought it was an outstanding play,” said Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on Dec. 1. “Never, ever do we want it to hurt our team and put them in field position the way they did, but now when that happens again, we have to get off the field and force them into a third down. We can’t be worried or can’t be thinking about that play too long and let it affect the next play. It affected the next play or two. That is what I really don’t like either.”

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The league reviewed the play and fined Peppers $24,000, contending he used his helmet to make first contact with Malone. Peppers is appealing the fine.

“When you break the film down and you take it in slow motion, I’m very proud of Jabrill paying attention to what we coach on strike zone,” Williams said. “He’s doing everything he can, just like Major League Baseball, to make sure it’s from the tip of the shoulders to the top of the knees.

“He’s actually ducking down to make sure he’s underneath the shoulder/collarbone to make sure that when he hits him if the (receiver’s) head comes down, the head will come down and that will strike maybe a part of his body, but he’s leading with his shoulder; he’s not even leading with his helmet.”

Coach Hue Jackson was the first to back up Peppers in his news conference one day after losing to the Bengals.

“I stand on what I said yesterday,” Jackson said after watching the play on tape. “I think it was a good play by our player.”

So what does Peppers or any player on the Browns do the next time that situation arises? Peppers doesn’t want to cost his team 15 yards and he doesn’t want to get fined again. This is where Williams and the defensive coaches have to reprogram players without making them timid.

“We’re looking now, OK, just move your strike zone lower, Jabrill,” Williams said. “Also, the bam-bam, the instant reaction that has to be made during that kind of a play, don’t worry about if you end up being wrong, but you need to worry about not going ahead and doing what’s right. Just lower your strike zone, and he gets that. He’s a very instinctive player.”

Peppers ranks sixth on the team with 39 tackles. He missed the games against the Titans and Vikings with a toe injury.

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